Sunday, 19 August 2012

What can be more beautiful than to wore a kimono as a geisha do?! Well, first of all, kimono is a Japanese traditional type of clothing worn by women, children and men,which literally means a "thing to wear" (ki "wear" and mono "thing"). Kimonos can be made of silk, wool, cotton, linen or synthetic material. Nowadays, the kimono it is used on special occasions. Is it beautiful and unique in the world. There are different types of kimono, in different colors and models.Geisha can't be a geisha without a kimono, but men, women, children, even manga and anime character wore it too.

Married couple

Parts:

Dōura: upper lining on a woman's kimono.

Eri : collar.

Fuki: hem guard.

Furi: sleeve below the armhole.

Maemigoro : front main panel, excluding sleeves. The covering portion of the other side of the back, maemigoro is divided into "right maemigoro" and "left maemigoro".

Miyatsukuchi: opening under the sleeve.

Okumi: front inside panel situated on the front edge of the left and right, excluding the sleeve of a kimono. Until the collar, down to the bottom of the dress goes, up and down part of the strip of cloth. Have sewn the front body.

Sode: sleeve.

Sodeguchi: sleeve opening.

Sodetsuke: kimono armhole.

Susomawashi: lower lining.

Tamoto: sleeve pouch.

Tomoeri: over-collar (collar protector).

Uraeri: inner collar.

Ushiromigoro: back main panel, excluding sleeves, covering the back portion. They are basically sewn back-centered and consist of "right ushiromigoro" and "left ushiromigoro", but for wool fabric, the ushiromigoro consists of one piece.

Some accessories:

Geta are wooden sandals worn by men and women with yukata. One unique style is worn solely by geisha.

Obi is the sash worn with kimono.

Tabi are ankle-high, divided-toe socks usually worn with zōri or geta. There also exist sturdier, boot-like jikatabi, which are used for example to fieldwork.

Yukata is an unlined kimono-like garment for summer use, usually made of cotton, linen, or hemp. Yukata are strictly informal, most often worn to outdoor festivals, by men and women of all ages. They are also worn at onsen (hot spring) resorts, where they are often provided for the guests in the resort's own pattern.

Zōri are traditional sandals worn by both men and women.Their formality ranges from strictly informal to fully formal. They are made of many materials, including cloth, leather, vinyl and woven grass, and can be highly decorated or very simple.

When choosing and wearing kimono, one must take a several things to account. This is often the reason why modern Japanese women don't feel comfortable to wear kimono, since they are worried of breaking the multidimensional kimono etiquette. Several things matter:

Sunday, 5 August 2012

More than a symbol, Rose of Sharon is for south korean people their national flower. The name comes from "mugung" and means immortality. As a symbol appears on many documents and on the National Emblem of South Korea. Mugunghwa is mentioned about 1,400 years ago.Some photos that I've found:

In the Bible, the Rose of Sharon symbolizes beauty.

This plant grows in Asia, including India, Korea and much of China. Is also cultivated in Europe, U.S.A, Latin America, Australia and northern Africa.

2014-08-02

2015-08-20

2016-08-09

2017-08-28

2018-08-17

2019-08-07

2020-08-25

Monday, 30 July 2012

Since she's my favourite writer I will like to share some facts and some of her poetry. Emily Brontë was born on 30 July 1818 in Thornton. She was the younger sister of Charlotte Brontë and the fifth of six children. In 1824, the family moved to Haworth, where Emily's father was perpetual curate, and it was in these surroundings that their literary gifts flourished.First published under Emily’s pseudonym Ellis Bell, the combination of its structure and elements of passion, mystery and doomed love as well as social commentary have made Wuthering Heights an enduring masterpiece.

Love And Friendship

Love is like the wild rose-briar;Friendship like the holly-tree.The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms,But which will bloom most constantly?

The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,Its summer blossoms scent the air;Yet wait till winter comes again,And who will call the wild-briar fair?

Then, scorn the silly rose-wreath now,And deck thee with the holly's sheen,That, when December blights thy brow,He still may leave thy garland green.

To Imagination

Published in the 1846 collection Poems By Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell under Emily's nom de plume 'Ellis Bell'.

***

When weary with the long day's care,And earthly change from pain to pain,And lost, and ready to despair,Thy kind voice calls me back again:Oh, my true friend! I am not lone,While then canst speak with such a tone!

So hopeless is the world without;The world within I doubly prize;Thy world, where guile, and hate, and doubt,And cold suspicion never rise;Where thou, and I, and Liberty,Have undisputed sovereignty.

What matters it, that all aroundDanger, and guilt, and darkness lie,If but within our bosom's boundWe hold a bright, untroubled sky,Warm with ten thousand mingled raysOf suns that know no winter days?

But thou art ever there, to bringThe hovering vision back, and breatheNew glories o'er the blighted spring,And call a lovelier Life from Death.And whisper, with a voice divine,Of real worlds, as bright as thine.